Black-clad nonnas may still shuffle along sidewalks with the day’s groceries, and elaborate tile shrines to the Virgin Mary may still bless many of the houses—but the influx of Italian and Portuguese immigrants from whom this neighbourhood derives its soul slowed over the years. In their place came professionals looking for a foothold in the city, and 20-somethings eager to live within stumbling distance of the bars along the College strip. It’s a real estate ecosystem in which all parties thrive: the bar kids lend the area a cachet that attracts affluent homebuyers, who, in turn, fund the retirements of the blue-collar immigrants. Teeming with restaurants, gelato parlours and cafes, the area’s enduring popularity has sparked a few new condo projects that promise to mix up the College streetscape. Bracketed on the east and west by the million-dollar homes along Palmerston and Dovercourt, the typical semi-detached Victorian will still run from around $600,000, often edging closer to $800,000 for larger, updated homes.